Mold for forming blocks or tiles



March 1946.: M. vALDAsTRL sh v 2,

[MILD FOR FORMING BLOCKS 0R TI LES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'V-INVENTORJJ Marza- 1@Ida6Z/ z Jr.

Filed Oct. 19, 1944 M ch 26, 1946.

M. VALDASTRI, SR

. MOLD FOR FORMING :BLOCKS on TILES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1944 INVENTQR. Marlo Valdasiro 6'2: {5037M M. VALDASTR], SR MOLD FOR FORMiNG BLOCKS 0R TILES Fi ledpct; 19, 1944 I 4 Sheets-Shet 3- IN VEN TOR.

MarchZG, 194s.

mm'o, K114613525 Patented Mar. 26, 1946 U N I T ED STATES: PATE 'OFFIC 2,397,223

Morn FOR FORMING BLooKs'on -fnLEs Mario Valdastri, 'Sn, Kailua,-'f1=erritory of- Hawaii Application October 19, 1944, SerialNo. 559.357 sciaims. (01. 25-119) My invention relates to molds for forming hollow blocks, t-iles or the like.

An important object of the invention is to .pr.ovide a mold of the above mentioned character which :is simple in construction, light, and may be manipulated by a single operator.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a mold of the above mentioned character which may be used to produce the hollow tile or block, without the operator having previous experience.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mold-of the above mentioned character adapted for use with a wet mix.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to compress the wet mix within the mold, to eliminate voids the tile, before the tile is ejected :from the mold. V

A further object of .the invention is to' provide the mold box with finger engaging portions or flanges arranged adjacent to the bottom of the mold box before the mold box is inverted; so that the mold box will then have a high center of gravity which will facilitate its inversion.

A further object of the invention is "to arrange the finger engaging portions .or flanges suitably near the bars of the stripping devices so that the hands may span the distance between the same and engage therewith.

A further object of the "invention is'to provide means for preventing the wet mix from adhering to the ejector.

A further object of the invention is to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the hollow spaces of the formed" tile when the cores are removed from the same.

Other-objects and advantages of this invention will be apparentduring the course of the follow ing description:

The present applicationis -a continuation in part of my co-pending application for molds "for forming'blocks or tiles, filed September 24, 1943, Serial No. 503,706.

Inthedrawings forming a part of this application :and in which like numerals are employed to'designate like parts throughout ithesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of :a mold "embodyin'g myinvention, showing the mold box :in the upright position,

Figure 2 isa central vertical longitudinalrsection taken on line 2-2 of :Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontalsection taken on line 3-3 of Figure .2, and

Figure 4 isa perspective :view of the mold showing the same inverted, the tile 'or block being ,partly'ejected.

In the drawings, wherein 'forithe pu pose'of illustration .is shown a preferred embodimentof my invention, the numeral I0 designates a mold box which is preferablyvrectangular, d m y b formed of sheet metal 'ort'he like. This mold box includes sides II and ends J 2 The si es 11 are provided with outwardly projecting reinforc before the mold box is inverted, by any suitable means, are transverse straps .or "bars M, having longitudinal straps or bars l5], enga ing their outer facesand rigidly secured thereto. The transverse :bars M are spaced inwardl item the ends 12 and the longitudinal bars I.5'.are spaced inwardly from the sides I I. Arranged within-the mold box 10 are cores 1.6, which are preferably hollow andtare formedofsheet ,metal, for lightness. The tops of these .co'res, Figurei2, are-cow eredby ends I I, while their lower ends are preterably open, The-ends flare provided with ,aper tures l1, so that air may enter the cavitiesgof the tile or block being ,formed, when the .cores are being withdrawn vfrom rthe cavities, thus vpreventing the creation of a vacuum within the cavities which might distort the tile .or block; The lower ends of the scores it rest upon the longitudinal bars ,I-5 and transverse bars .L4, {and are cutawayat I 8, to receive-the transverse bars. The cores may be welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the bars J4 :and 15.. The cores. 1.6 are spaced from :each other for providing .an inner transverse :space t9, are spacedfrom the ends 12- for providing ,outertransverse spaces-12,0, and are spaced from the sides Ll ;for providing longitudinal spaces 21.

Arranged within the bottom of the mold box I!) when the mold box isin the upright position, Figure 2, is an ejector 524 having openings .23, for'receiving the-cores I6. I This-ejectorcomprises transverse webs 24, operating within the spaces 20, a transverse web 25 operating within the space I9, and longitudinal webs 2.6 operating within the spaceszl. These webs are preferably slightly narrower-than the spaces within which they operate and are accordingly spaced item the walls of the spaces, whicheliminates the .possibility of any binding. The-sejeetorlz has its several webs provided with apertures 26, which prevent the wet mix adhering to the ejector when the ejector is separated from the formed a slightly below or inwardly mold box.

1 necessary to tamp the mix.

tile or block. These apertures break any vacuum which might tend to form beneath the ejector. The concrete does not enter the apertures to any considerable extent and these apertures produce a rough surface upon the edge of the formed tile] or block, which aids in the binding action with the mortar or the like. e L I v I V Mounted uponthe outer faces of the ends l2 are plates 21, preferably formed of sheet metal and which are rigidly attached to these ends by welding or the like. These plates ar provided at their bottom edges when the mold. box is in the upright position, Figure 2, with outwardly projecting horizontal flanges 28, preferably formed integral therewith by bending the plates 21 upon themselves. At their tops, the plates 2 are. vertically slit and their material is bent outwardly to form horizontal ears or projections 29,

integral therewith.

- .intoengagement with the floorr Before the mold Adjacent to each end l2 of the mold box is a 7 pair of vertical U-shaped rods 30.. Each 'U- shaped rod includes innerand outer vertical legs 3! and 32 and a transverse end 33, these parts a being integral, since the U-shaped rod is formed by bending a previously straight rod. The outer e 7 vertical edge 32 of the'two U'-shaped rods extend through openings 34 in the flange 28 and openings 35 in the cars 29. The legs'32 are adapted to slide freely within'these openings 33 and 34 and the openingsare preferably slightly larger in'diameter'than the legs. Each pair of inner legs3l is rigidly'attached'to the transvers web 24 of the ejector. For this purpose, each leg 3! 1 hasa reduced extension'at its end, to enter an.

opening 31 in the web 24, the end of the extension 36 being. subsequently'spread. The leg may also be welded to the 'web' 24. At its lower ends;

I each pair of U-shaped' rods .30 is rigidly' con 7 nected with a horizontal strap or bar 38, secured to the transverse end 33 by welding or the like.

' Rigidly secured to the top ends of the leg 12 are feet39. When the ejector 22 is in the lowermost position, 'FigureZ, it rests upon the transverse straps I l, and. the feet 39 are now positioned The operation of the'mold' is as follows: "The. mold box [0 is arranged in the upright 1' position andiis'placed upon a horizontalbeam 40, extending between the pairs of legs 30, and

having the longitudinal straps l5 resting upon the beam. With the mold supported at its bottom in the upright position, the eje'ctor22 is at the 5 bottom ofthe mold box and is resting upon the transverse straps I4, with which. it overlaps. The

U-shaped 1egs'3tl are in the'lowermost position but are retained spaced from the floor and the feet 39.are at an elevation below the top of the mold box. The wet concrete mix, or other suitable material from which the tiles or blocks may a be made, is now fed into the upper end of the upright mold box III. This Wet is suitably distributed in themold box and the mold box may be shaken or vibrated to cause themix to suitably settle and avoid the'iormation of air pockets or voids; By using a wet mix it is uncompletely filled with thewet mix'and' the'top is of the top edge of the The mold box is leveledpff with a straight edge. Prior to the introduction of the wet'mix into the moldbox,

we contemplate applying strips of light fabric,

such as cheese cloth or other fabric such ascan r r J va s, upon the upper facesrof the W bs f. th 1 ejector. The use of this fabric may be dispensed with. As stated, the mold box 10 is in the upright position and is supported by the beam 40 which is arranged, at such an elevation that the mold box will'b about table high or slightly lower. The operator now places the fingers of the two hands in engagement with the upper faces of the flanges 28 while the thumbs engage j While thus holding the flanges the mold box I 0' is raised and. V separated from the beam 4D. While still holdingthe lower faces of 'theseflanges.

the flanges 28 inthe manner stated the mold box is brought to a position near the floor, whil re taining the moldbox generally in the upright I position. The surface of the floor is sprinkled with sand to prevent the block or tile from sticking. The mold is then turned upon its'longitudinal axis to invert the same and bring its top box was inverted, the flanges 28 being at the bot.-

'tomrof the mold box, the mold box has a high center of gravity; and canbe readily and'conveniently tipped over in turning upon its'lo-ngh tudinal axis, for inverting. .The'inverted mold box is nowresting upon the floor, while the feet 39 are slightly spaced above the floor.

the operator nowstrikes the bars 38 by a downward-movement of thehands, which will cause the ejector22 to compress the mix, adjust the mix within the mold box, and eliminates voids in the mix. The feet 33 are ordinarily spaced only engagement with the upper faces of the straps 38.

By arranging the flanges 28 at the bottom of the. a

mold box before it i's inverted, the flanges 28' and straps 38 are arrangedsuficiently close so that the space between them may be spanned by the hand. The flanges 28 are. now drawn upwardly.

while the straps 38 and U-shaped legs are-held The ,mold box it is 7 against upward movement. accordingly moved upwardly while the ejector is held against upward movement, with the result thatthe mold box is stripped from the formed block or tile, which remains upon the floor. The cores l8 are'also moved upwardlyjwith the mold box and are withdrawnfrom the formed block or tile. The openings I'lprevent 'the'creation of vacuums withins the cavities of the formed'tile or block. The fabric'strips will now adhere to the top edges of the block or tile and are. separated.

therefrom.. The apertures 26" reduce the tendency of the mix adhering. to the ejector 22, and this is particularly truewhen the fabric is.

not. used; The tendency of'themix to adhere to the ejector may also be reduced by Washing the ejector.

undue movement while the same are being moved upwardly from theformed block or tile, 7 and also limit the upwardmovement of the. mold box. All parts of the apparatus arepermanently connected. The apparatus isIightand may be manipulated by a single operator.

It is to be understcodtth'at thefo rmtoflmy invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the'same, and that various changes in the shapersiie, and -ar= rangement of parts may be resorted to without 7 Before 7 r stripping the formed tile or block from'the mold,

The ,U-shaped legs 30 andassociated elements retain the mold box and cores against '3. In a mold, a mold- 'box ha-ving"sidesand ends,

departing from the spirit of my invention "or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimis:

1. In a mold, a moldbox, substantially horizontal hand grips attached to the ends of the mold box substantially at itsbottom before the moldbo-x'is inverted'and having openingsformed therein, core -means arranged within the mold box and spaced from the same, means attached to the bottom of the mold box and secured to the here means, an ejector mounted within the mold box adjacent to its bottom when the mold box is in an upright position, a pair of U-shaped member disposed adjacent to each end of the mold box and includinginner and outer legs, the outer legs extendingthrough the openings in the substantiallyhorizontal hand grip and the inner legs-"being attached to the adjacent end of the ejec'tonand a substantially horizontal hand grip rigidly connected with'thelo-werends of each pair of U-s'haped members, the second named substantially horizontal hand grip being arranged above and substantially overlapping the first named substantially horizontal hand grip when the mold box is inverted, the arrangement being such that'when the mold box is inverted the thumbs may be placed upon the second named substantially horizontal hand grips and the fingers engaged beneath the first named sub-stantially horizontal hand grips for raising the'molcl boxand core means with relation to the ejector and before the mold box is inverted the fingers and thumbs may engage opposite faces of said first named hand grips for inverting the mold box which has a high center of gravity before being inverted.

2. In a mold, a moldbox, substantially hori zontal transverse hand grips rigidly attached to the ends of the mold box substantially at its bottom before the mold box is inverted and havin openings formed therein, spaced cores arranged within the mold box and spaced from the same,

means for holding the cores in place including transverse and longitudinal straps, thetransverse straps being attached to the bottom of the mold box and spaced from the ends of the same, an ejector mounted within the mold mox adjacent to its bottom before the mold box is inverted, parts of the ejector overlapping with parts of the transverse straps to limit the downward movement of the ejector, a pair of U-shaped members disposed adjacent to each end of the mold box and including inner and outer legs, the outer legs extending through the openings in the substantially horizontal hand grip and the inner legs being attached to the adjacent end of the ejector, and a substantially horizontal transverse hand grip rigidly connected with the loWer ends of each pair of U-shaped rods, the second named substantially horizontal transverse hand grip being arranged above and spaced from the first named substantially horizontal hand grip when the mold box is inverted, the arrangement being such that when the mold box is inverted the thumbs may be placed upon the second named substantially horizontal hand grips and the fingers engage beneath the first named substantially horizontal hand grips for raising the mold box and cores with relation to the ejector and before the mold box is inverted the fingers and thumbs may engage opposite faces of the first named hand grips for inverting the mold box which then has a high center of gravity before being inverted.

plates arranged upon "the 'outer faces of the sends and-attached thereto and provided at thei ebot toms with outwardly extending substantially horizontal hand grips having openings andnear their tops with outwardly extending .ears' having openings, hand grips'be'ing arranged substantially at the bottom of the mold box before the mold box is inverted, us'shaped members an ranged near each end, each U -shaped member comprising inner and outer legs and a transverse,

end connecting them, the outer legs passing through :said openings, feet secure'dto the upper ends of the outer legs, spaced cores "arranged r within the mold boxand spaced .irom the ends and sides of-the .mold box/transverse bars disposed-beneath the bottom "of the mold boxand spaced from the ends-of the same and attached to the mold box, longitudinal straps secured to.

the transverse straps and spaced from the sides of zthe' mold box, the cores iresting upon and being secured to the transverse andlon-gitudinal straps, the transverse straps havingtheir outer longitudlnaledgesextending beyond theadjacent cores, ejector mounted within the mold box and having openings to receive the cores, the end transverse webs of the ejector overlapping the outer free-edges .ofthe transverse straps, the free ends of the inner legs being attached to the outer webs of the ejector, and a transverse hand grip rigidly attached to the transverse lower ends of each pair of U-shaped rods,the last named transverse hand grip being arranged near and above and spaced from the first ,name'd substantially horizontal hand grip when the mold box is inverted, the arrangement being such that before the mold box isinverted the fingers and thumbs may engage opposite faces of the first named transversehand grips for inverting the mold box which has a higher center'of gravity before'being inverted and when the mold box is inverted "the thumbs may engage thetransverse second named hand grips and the fingers the first named substantially horizontal hand grips to draw sudh hand grips toward the second named hand grips which are then above such first named hand grips.

4. In a mold, a mold box, substantially horizontal hand grips attached to the ends of the mold box substantially at its bottom before the mold box is inverted and having openings formed therein, hollow core means having apertured ends arranged within the mold box and spaced from the same, means attached to the bottom of the mold box and secured to the core means, an

tending thru said openings and the inner legs being attached to the adjacent end of the ejector, and a substantially horizontal hand grip rigidly connected with the lower ends of each pair of U-shaped members, the secondnamed substantially horizontal hand grips being arranged above and overlapping the first named substantially horizontal hand grips when the mold box is inverted, the arrangement being such that when the mold box is inverted the thumbs may be placed upon the second named substantially horizontal hand grips and the fingers engaged beneath the first named substantially horizontal hand grips for raising the mold box and core means with relation to the ejector and before the cured to the bottom of the mold box and secured j to the core means to hold the core means in place, an ejector mounted within the mold box adjacent to its bottom when the mold box is in the upright position and engaging the attaching means, a pair of U-shaped members disposed 7 adjacent to eachrend of the mold box'and including inner and outer legs, the outer legs extending thru' said openings and the inner legs being attached tothe adjacent end of the ejector, the free ends of theouter legs terminating short of the corresponding end of the mold boxwhen the mold box is inverted and the ejector engages the attaching means, and a substantially horizontal hand grip connected with the lower ends of'each'pair of U-shaped members, the second namedsubstantially horizontal handgrip being arranged above and overlapping the first named substantially horizontal hand grip when the mold box is inverted, the arrangement being such that when the mold box is inverted the thumbs may be placed upon the second named substantially horizontal hand grips and the fingers engaged beneath the first named substan- [tially horizontal hand grips for raising the mold box and core means with relation to the ejector and before the mold box is inverted the fingers and thumbs may engage opposite faces of said first named hand grips for inverting'the mold box whichhas a high center of gravity before being inverted. V a r 6. In a mold, a mold box, first hand grips attached to theends of the mold box substantially at its bottom before themold box is inverted, an ejector mounted within the mold box adjacent to the bottom of the mold box before it is inverted,

and outer legs, the inner legsbeing attachedto' the ejector, second handgripsattaclied to the endsof the U-shap'ed members remote from the V ejector, the arrangement being such that before 7 the mold box is inverted, the fingers and thumbs the first hand grips for inverting the may engage mold box which has a high center of gravitybefore being inverted and after the mold boxis 'in- I verted, the hands may span the space between the firstand second hand grips to engage therewith,

'7. In a mold, a mold box, first hand grips attached to the ends of the moldbox substantially at its bottom before the mold box is inverted, .an 7 ejector mounted within the mold box adjacent to the bottom of the mold box beforeitis inverted, a pair of U-shaped members disposed adjacent to each end of the mold box and include,

ing inner and outer legs, the inner legs-being attached to the ejector, guide means for the members, a second hand grip attached to the ends of:

each pair of U-shaped members remote from the ejector, the arrangement being such that be-f- ;fore the mold box is inverted, the fingers and thumbs may engage the first hand grips for inverting the mold box which has a high center of gravity before being inverted and after the mold box is inverted, thehands may span the space between the first and second hand grips to engage therewith.

'8. In a mold, a mold box, first hand grips attached to the ends of the mold box substantially at its bottom before the mold boxis inverted, an ejector mounted within the mold box adjacent to its bottom before the moldbox is inverted, U-V shaped members disposed adjacent to the ends of the moldbox and including inner and outer legs, the inner legs being attached to the ejector,

and second hand grips attached to the' ends of the U-shaped'members remote from the ejector, the

arrangement being such that before the mold box is inverted, the fingers and thumbs may engage the first hand grips for inverting the mold box a pair of U-shaped members disposed adjacent to each end of the mold box and including inner which has a high center of gravity before being inverted and after the'mold box is inverted, the' hands may span the space between the first and second hand grips to engage therewith.

MARIO VALDASTRI, st. 

